General Forum

Something I was thinking about today.  How do set collectors feel about factory sets?  Do you just buy the set or do you build the set from packs?  I think packs of course are more fun, but probably cheaper just to buy the factory set. 

I think it comes down to the collector. If they just collect sets then buy the set and be done. When I collect a full set then I go after inserts. That means I would rather hand collect and buy blasters and hobby boxes.

Little of both. Sometimes I just say I am going to buy the set when it comes out, other times I try to go pack by pack. My decision depends on inserts, and am I collecting a number of other sets at that time.

If im going for the base set only Ill buy factory but if i enjoy the inserts and want those to ill go pack by pack and buy singles on ebay.

I've done it every way imaginable. Bought factory sets, purchased hand-collated sets, partial sets to try to complete, began set by breaking box and had to finish by trading for or buying singles. Opening packs or a box is obviously the funnest way to do it- but I'm at the point in my collecting journey where I don't really enjoy the newer products like I do the stuff from the '70s and '80s. Moving forward I'm planning on just purchasing the Topps factory set and then pick up an Update hand-collated set. That'll leave me with more funds to build the older sets I'm working on- or wanting to start building.

I feel factory sets are kind of like cheating.also, 99% of the time you don't get a complete set.

I'm a setcollector first and foremost. I love ripping wax and building sets, but I don't. I buy FS or HC sets and just be done with it. To me building from a fresh wax box isn't cost efficient. The extra $ being spent to maybe get a good "hit" and not even complete the set itself isn't worth it to me. And seeing I don't chase "hits" (really, a manufacured pin/coin/patch/whatnot counts and thos aren't real to me). Buying the set may seem like cheating to some, but allows me to focus $$ on things I want/need to get and not play the lottery.

Being a low-budget set collector, I can appreciate buying the factory set and being done with it but where's the fun in that? Ever since I was a little kid, I've loved the thrill of the chase and understand there's an extra cost to complete (flagship) sets pack-by-pack. And I'm fine with that.

Having collected in the 80s-90s and only recently come back in, I consider factory sets as a good way to catch up on the sets I missed out on.  I've snagged a couple for good prices from the 2000s that I missed.  Others I'm working on making trades (or buying) enough to get a starter set going of years I still need.

For current/recent year sets, I prefer and have always preferred to build sets from packs and hobbies.  I'll get to about 80% through retail/hobby and then move on to trades to complete it.  

Half of the fun and the calming effect of cards for me is the chase of the cards I need, plus sitting at my card table and sorting/collating sets and duplicates out.

I returned to the hobby around 2011 after taking a break to go to college in the early 90's.  I had hand collated sets of 1987-1991 for nearly all brands.  I also bought a lot of factory sets from 1992 to 2010. I was fortunate enought to get back in the hobby in 2011, but I unfortunately did not think it was a good idea to do the Update set as I didn't collect the Traded sets back in the day.  How dumb of me to not see the Trout RC back then.  I didn't buy packs steadily again until 2015 as it took a lot to complete the 2011 Topps set, so I bought the 2012-2014 Factory sets.  I've been hooded on building sets and a couple of insert sets since 2015.  I traded to complete the 2011 set, then the 1993 set and then set a goal I thought would be unreachable as a kid to collect all the Topps flagship sets from my birth year (1975) to present. I bought hand collated sets of 1979-1985, built the 1986 by buying a wax box and traded here to complete it.  I have since made and exceeded my childhood goal by trading to build the 1974-1978 sets and have also either bought or traded for all the Topps Traded/Update sets from 1974-2020 - I even was able to buy a reasonable 2011 Topps Update Trout a couple years ago for about $100. I haven't started on the 2021 Update set yet and am waiting for the boxes to come down a little more in price before I buy a retail box through Target or Walmart online.  It has been an absolute blast to trade to complete so many sets here on TCDB.  I'm now building 1970-1972 and am only 2 cards away from the 1973 complete set (#476 & 621, trade proposals are pending).  To catch up on old sets, buying the factory sets are very reasonable. I no longer keep them sealed and I do have a goal of someday sheeting and bindering all of my sets, but for now, I'm keeping them in boxes on a shelf in the basement.  I bought the 2002 set off ebay and it came in sheets and a binder and to date, it's the only one that way.  I am beginning to dread the 2026 end of Topps era and I'm a little nervous what Fanatic will do to the card hobby.  I hope they only enhance it instead of making it a crazy business